#i. helaena zalyne ›› with baela.

[steelfyre]

closed starter ›› baela velaryon + malaya dagareon , @disrcpairs + @crvwncd

smile  vanished  the instant  westerosi  lord finally departed. forwardness only appealing when it was desired, and laena was certain she'd rather never dance again than suffer through the company of one so obtuse. quiet distaste at an evening wasted over dances arranged by another's judgement might've had a silver lining if it had prevented such exchanges.  ❝ i'd almost forgotten how many nobles in westeros don't understand the signs of disinterest. ❞   she rolled her eyes and picked up a glass of wine.

[steelfyre]

❝  nothing  that  has impressed  you?  ❞  brow arched. after time at dragonstone, the flurry of colors and flowers had been a welcomed sight. as had the fanfare that accompanied a celebration.  ❝ who do you think would throw the bigger fit if it was - the children or some old noble? ❞   hopefully all the drama would be reserved for the joust rather than little squabbles, but if one must erupt, let it be over a more interesting subject than a shortage of apples. laena's nose scrunched.  ❝ it's not the water. if we had to swim for the apples, i'd dive in without hesitation. it's how one looks while blindly searching for the apples as if they were a horse. ❞

“  they  have  certainly  shown  something  .  ”  unimpressed  with  copious  amounts  of  flowers  and  hay fever  suffered  since  stepping  from  the  ship  ,  baela  managed  to  find  the  downside  to  the  paradise  tyrells  offered  them  all  .  “  it  could  be  they  only  wish  the  children  to  have  it  because  they  do  not  have  enough  .  i  should  hope  if  that  is  the  case  their  bluff  is  not  found  .  ”  from  rows  of  trees  far  as  the  eye  could  see  ,  seemed  more  likely  if  there  was  to  be  lack  of  it  would  be  a  matter  of  asking  the  attendants  for  more  .  “  water  is  enough  for  you  to  shy  away  ?  my  ,  how  times  have  changed  ,  helaena  .  i  am  certain  there  are  towels  about  as  i  doubt  that  the  children  have  walked  about  with  wet  faces  until  they  dry  .  ”  

[steelfyre]

closed starter ›› baela velaryon , @disrcpairs

❝  it  is  beneficial when  one's  true character reveals itself so early on, ❞   nereid mused as she picked up a grape from the tray. enlightened far preferable to disappointed, the latter only existing in relation to a plan crafted now requiring revisions. hardly a new occurrence. her father had often spoke highly of a certain suitor and a fortnight later declared him unsuitable. as attractive as becoming lady of storms' domain might be, she had little desire to be a fool's bride.

[steelfyre]

❝ how most  here can  drink  so much of it is beyond me. ❞   her sweet tooth wasn't nonexistent but neither was it bottomless. she would much rather select a variety of pastries than wash away her taste for sugar with glasses of wine. lips pursed.  ❝ vultures can't resist showing their true colors. ❞   she didn't understand the obsession most had with the winged lizards, most were quite ugly in her eyes, but the late lord velaryon must've had his reasons, and loss was loss.  ❝ yes, i could never abandon her. i remember how difficult the adjustment was when i wed someone here. ❞   the nereid had been cast into turbulent waters alone. her chosen sister would not need to brave westeros alone. laena smiled.  ❝ you shall have my thanks for that. might i convince you to also bring me more when your return to westeros next? ❞

“  lucky  you  have  that  much  .  i  am  sure  you  learned  quickly  that  the  beverages  of  choice  could  be  considered  as  a  dessert  .  ”  something  to  have  gotten  used  to  when  first  across  the  sunset  sea  ,  had  come  to  enjoy  the  robust  flavors  of  the  rums  rather  than  the  sweetness  of  the  famed  wines  of  house  redwyne  and  dornish  reds  .  “  especially  when  it  is  used  as  entertaining  fodder  rather  than  a  death  .  ”  foolish  as  she  found  her  brother's  actions  to  have  been  there  was  underlying  truth  in  that  while  the  sea  had  always  been  their  home  ,  the  skies  had  been  as  well  .  “  ah  ,  i  see  .  it  is  good  she  will  have  someone  familiar  by  her  side  .  ”  regardless  of  how  she  felt  about  actions  taken  by  the  newly  married  princess  to  endure  the  storm  alone  would  be  horrible  .  “  before  i  take  my  leave  i  will  add  more  bottles  to  your  stash  ,  then  ,  ”  voiced  with  a  smile  .

[steelfyre]

❝  i  thought  something  was  better  than nothing. ❞   presence of heavy guards at the sealord's palace meant there'd been no true need for eldest daughter to wield a weapon unless she wished to. a desire that never blossomed. brown hues stared at the blade, hand hesitating before candlestick was dropped and dagger accepted.  ❝  no one came for me. i waited in my chambers as long as i could, but the screams and shouting were getting too close. ❞   laena worried at her lip. she knew catraena would've sent someone for her if she could've. hoped that her inability to was due to regulations rather than harm befalling her.

“  oh  for  fucks  sake  .  what  the  hell  is  that  going  to  do  ,  laena  ?  honestly  .  ”  exasperation  only  in  that  it  becomes  clear  how  ill  equipped  her  friend  was  —  tempest  would  correct  that  moving  forward  .  second  dagger  pulled  from  under  skirts  and  offered  out  to  the  zalyne  ,  iced  hues  glancing  back  over  her  shoulder  to  ensure  she  had  not  been  followed  .  “  why  are  you  out  in  the  corridors  ?  you  should  be  with  the  royal  family  ,  should  you  not  ?  ”  overly  protected  and  would  suffer  no  injuries  should  they  remain  in  secluded  quarters  .  tempest  knew  youngest  of  the  dragons  too  well  to  know  viserra  would  not  remain  in  place  ;  only  reason  she  crept  through  the  halls  too  .    

[steelfyre]

❝  one  certainly  has more  options  when shaping a social circle than here. easier to avoid the bad apples. ❞   regrettably, marriage had tied her to one or two of those, though they'd had their uses too. and now they belonged to the past. inconsequential. life on her home's shores had granted her many more cherished relationships. however, there was a small fascination with westeros' court, navigating braavos' court had delighted her so.  ❝  from what i've seen, that is more than some of the nobility can say. what is worse, disobeying our host and your queen or a few sharp words? well, the lord baratheon asked for one of my dances. it felt only right to agree when he fought so gallantly in the joust. ❞

“  alas  that  is  often  the  norm  here  .  i  am  certain  you  can  tell  why  i  preferred  essos  with  little  trouble  .  ”  in  truth  ,  lands  across  narrow  sea  shaped  into  home  to  long  for  rather  than  driftmark  .  comfortable  in  ancestral  home  yet  sea's  restlessness  taken  hold  as  often  as  foam  .  balls  ,  jousts  ,  tourney  no  longer  delighted  in  when  motions  of  sea  appealed  to  tempest  rather  than  courtesies  and  games  to  be  played  .  “  i  am  certain  it  will  hit  the  hears  of  the  court  that  i  upset  many  of  the  nobility  with  my  candor  but  i  will  be  able  to  remind  them  that  i  did  ,  at  least  ,  complete  my  dance  card  .  it  did  not  say  that  we  had  to  choose  for  the  last  lines  ,  after  all  .  will  you  be  throwing  any  a  bone  or  will  you  let  them  suffer  in  your  beauty  ?   ”

[steelfyre]

an  alluring  image  was  displayed  to the world, akin to gentle water sparkling under the sun's light, but deadly creatures and undercurrents lurked beneath even the calmest sea, all waiting to snatch their next victim. nereid and siren quite similar - the temptation to fully embrace the latter lurked. laena only let the scale tip subtly in the direction.  ❝  hopefully, lady alysane will share that mindset. ❞   situation differed but heart could still be guarded; forgiveness, even if words were spoken, could still be denied.  ❝  i would never turn down the assistance of a fierce friend. ideally, lord baratheon will stumble on the stairs around others who will bear witness to it. ❞

need  not  remind  that  exceptions  would  be  disappoint  on  their  own  ,  not  with  friend  suffering  in  the  aftermath  of  misguided  ball  .  the  baratheons  not  a  family  given  attention  to  by  the  driftmarkian  ,  neither  while  in  court  nor  travels  .  perhaps  a  ploy  to  keep  the  stormlands  on  the  forefront  of  minds  though  to  bring  the  attention  it  had  baela  was  unsure  the  reward  had  been  great  .  “  make  him  work  for  it  .  they  all  should  .  ”  tempest  had  never  chosen  peace  and  would  not  suggest  the  same  for  helaena  unless  it  was  her  desire  .  “  i  know  you  have  no  need  of  assistance  and  will  weave  your  web  as  you  see  fit  ,  but  should  you  need  someone  to  help  him  trip  down  flight  of  steps  ,  i  will  .  ”

[steelfyre]

a break  from liquid  sweetness  was welcomed, and the familiar spice lingering on her tastebuds was savored.  ❝ impossible. i made certain i brought a few bottles so i could enjoy a good drink when i wished. ❞   supply, however, was meant to last for a set time; now future stretched into the unknown. another sip taken before goblet was set down. ❝ they get tiresome unless sincere. ❞   laena was no stranger to condolences offered for appearances' sake. a soft sigh passed her lips.  ❝ i'm afraid not. ❞   the trace of sorrow had nothing to do with why she intended on remaining here.  ❝ i serve as one of princess catraena's ladies of honor and intend to remain at her side for however long she allows me to. ❞   for she would not abandon cat to these turbulent waters.

            lips  twitched  up  into  warm  smile  ,  sip  taken  of  the  spiced  whiskey  that  warmed  the  velaryon  through  like  nothing  else  had  achieved  since  arriving  in  westeros  .  “  i  do  not  know  .  your  tolerance  may  have  gotten  lower  while  here  ,  helaena  .  i  would  doubt  it  ,  but  you  never  know  .  ”  light  sight  blew  passed  plush  lips  as  she  placed  the  goblet  back  to  the  table  .  “  anything  aside  from  the  wedding  ,  or  ,  false  condolences  .  i  realize  that  it  is  obligatory  platitudes  ,  but  i  am  close  to  telling  the  next  person  to  save  them  for  another  .  ”  none  were  comforting  though  baela  had  doubts  it  was  their  intended  affect  ,  rather  ,  gesture  to  say  it  had  been  done  .  “  let  us  speak  if  when  i  will  next  visit  you  ,  not  here  ,  but  in  your  home  .  it  must  be  soon  ,  yes  ?  ”  

[steelfyre]

❝  they  will  have to  find  that person elsewhere. ❞   jabs without a coating of saccharine sweetness would rarely fall from siren's tongue, knowing the ways of court and using them to her benefit, but tolerance had its limits. her duty this eve was to follow her dance card as she had; the final two lines on the card were hers to choose. decisions that would not be made lightly.  ❝  an amusing sight. their inability to excuse themself and save some of their image further proof that they aren't worth one's time. ❞

“  they  understand  .  they  choose  to  act  witless  in  the  hopes  someone  will  take  pity  on  them  .  ”  court  had  never  suited  velaryon  ,  less  so  after  brother's  death  .  laenor  a  present  shadow  to  stand  over  her  both  in  physical  and  mental  ,  took  brunt  of  courtesies  when  tempest  present  in  westeros  lest  baela  be  cause  of  relations  souring  .  those  that  had  been  granted  dances  had  been  on  her  own  choosing  ,  settled  now  with  spiced  rum  poured  into  ornate  goblet  rather  than  the  sweet  juices  that  passed  as  wine  .  “  it  is  why  when  most  speak  i  do  not  respond  and  watch  them  squirm  .  ”

[steelfyre]

❝  the  exceptions  are rare.  ❞   five  husbands and only aeros had not disappointed her. the reason he had been allowed to see the true nereid rather than image portrayed for others. but perhaps his early demise had prevented disappointment from arising and spoiling the picture she now held onto, an odd gift, a bittersweet one.  ❝  both ideas are tempting. ❞   she did mislike sacrificing a possible advantage.  ❝  unless he chooses to approach me, i shall likely lean toward the latter and see what advantage might still be gained. if he wishes to change it, i have no intention of making it easy. ❞

“   men  will  always  be  constant  source  of  disappointment  .  ”  crunch  of  knife  on  bread  echoes  words  with  force  not  necessary  yet  baela  held  experiences  for  lifetime  to  know  that  to  trust  another  meant  to  lose  oneself  ,  with  men  a  higher  risk  .  walls  constructed  around  her  own  heart  high  as  highgarden's  maze  with  raging  tempest  upon  other  side  to  be  bested  .  a  force  only  one  waded  through  with  success  to  be  the  reason  for  her  deep  mistrust  .  “  now  that  you  know  he  is  not  worthy  of  your  affections  you  could  use  it  to  your  advantage  or  pay  him  the  dust  that  he  is  deserved  of  .  depending  upon  your  moods  ,  of  course  .  ” 

[steelfyre]

she moved  one of  the  goblets closer so dark eyes could inspect the liquid, hoping, due to who sat opposite of her, that it might be one sampled across the narrow sea. homesickness was similar to waves upon a shore, sometimes receding but eventually returning, its speed altering by the day. a feeling not unfamilar to one wed many times. each new husband demanded a new castle to be called home.  ❝ you needn't worry for me. my tolerance has withstood many strong drinks. ❞   a confident drink from the goblet followed her words.  ❝ now, what are these positive things we should speak of? ❞

            goblets  clinked  light  against  the  surface  of  the  table  as  baela  placed  them  ,  carafe  to  follow  shortly  with  an  attendant  .  “  there  now  .  i  believe  it  time  to  speak  of  more  positive  things  ,  yes  ?  ”  grief  yet  to  cease  its  pull  on  her  heart  ,  distance  of  souls  originally  one  marked  by  siblings  finding  foot  in  different  paths  ──  demise  overshadowed  by  a  switch  of  brides  .  baela  preferred  not  to  speak  of  either  .  “  now  ,  i  have  given  you  something  stronger  than  the  wine  in  the  carafe  .  do  be  warned  as  i  will  not  accept  blame  for  your  inebriation  should  it  come  to  it  .  ”      

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[steelfyre]

❝  i  don't  see why  we  can't. lord tyrell has certainly shown how bountiful his lands are. thus, there should be more than enough apples and baked pastries for all in attendance. ❞   laena would hate to think that the tyrells were nothing more than talk or lacked the insight to prepare for the vast crowds they'd opened their gates to. moving to stand beside baela, she looked into the fountain. lips pursed.  ❝ however, the idea of sticking my face into fountain water isn't very appealing. can i not simply pick one up with my hand? ❞

“  i  do  not  see  why  the  children  should  have  all  the  fun  .  we  have  been  relegated  to  watching  the  jesters  rather  than  searching  for  treats  in  the  gardens  and  apple  picking  —  surely  as  long  as  we  leave  enough  for  the  children  ,  we  could  indulge  as  well  .  ”  twinkle  in  cool  blue  gaze  as  velaryon  leaned  over  one  of  the  fountains  ,  mental  count  of  the  apples  available  for  giggling  children  that  ran  past  .  “  there  are  four  and  ten  of  them  .  i  believe  that  if  we  were  to  take  two  of  them  it  would  not  missed  and  the  kids  would  have  more  than  enough  to  brag  about  in  their  games  .  ”

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